Fodor's Expert Review Les Fonds Blancs

Offshore from Le François, les fonds blancs baths draw snorkelers to the privately owned Ilets de l'Impératrice. The islands received that name because, according to legend, this is where Empress Joséphine Bonaparte came to bathe in the shallow basins, known as les fonds blancs because of their white-sand bottoms. Group boat tours leave from the harbor and include lunch and drinks and one can even buy a package that includes an overnight stay on the remote and romantic Îlet Oscar. Prices vary. You can also haggle with a fisherman to take you out for a while on his boat. There's a fine bay 6 miles (10 km) farther along the coast where you can swim and go kayaking. The town itself is rather lackluster but authentic, and you'll find a number of different shops, a gas station, and supermarkets.